Campaign strengthens legal literacy

The eighth edition of China's five-year legal publicity and education campaign has extended legal education into communities and public governance, strengthening legal literacy and the foundation for law-based governance, according to a report on review before China's top legislature.

Between 2021 and 2025, China established over 5,200 rule-of-law-themed parks and public squares at or above the county level. Legal culture facilities now cover 95.7 percent of administrative villages and communities, said the report submitted on Tuesday to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress.

More than 4.4 million grassroots legal advisers, known as "people who understand the law", have been trained to explain laws and policies, collect public concerns and help resolve disputes. They are supported by 150,000 lecturers and over 2.2 million volunteers, the report said.

Legal education has been incorporated into official training and the national education system. Civil Code campaigns have used classes, videos and community activities to explain how the law applies to daily life.

It has also been integrated into legislation, law enforcement, judicial proceedings and legal services. Officials explain relevant laws during enforcement, mediation and case handling, while lawyers and arbitrators provide legal guidance alongside professional services.

Such efforts are reflected in the experience of Julien Bertrand, managing director and chief financial officer of a German-owned automotive parts company in China.

After the COVID-19 pandemic strained the company's cash flow, a supplier filed a lawsuit. Bertrand was concerned about the costs and reputational impact and did not know commercial mediation was an available avenue.

With assistance from a mediator, the dispute was settled within 24 hours. The company later revised its contract template to prioritize mediation in future disputes.

The Law on Publicity and Education Regarding the Rule of Law, effective since Nov 1, 2025, has consolidated established practices through legislation. It introduced lifelong rule-of-law education, defined the responsibilities of different parties and provided for supervision and legal liability.

A central mechanism is the principle that those who enforce the law should also explain it. During the campaign, 29 provincial-level regions introduced assessment systems to promote implementation.

Mo Jihong, vice-chairman of the China Law Society, said legal education is a society-wide responsibility and the law systematically defines the duties of different parties.

It has also turned legal education from a phased policy task into a statutory duty. Authorities who failed to fulfill their responsibilities can be ordered to correct the problem, giving the work stronger institutional support, he said.

Despite the progress, Mo highlighted the need for further improvements. Implementation remains uneven across regions and sectors, and some local authorities need to take a more proactive and sustained approach. Legal education also sometimes repeats conventional topics rather than responding precisely to the practical legal needs of residents and businesses.

Foreign-related legal education is also becoming a critical requirement as China's international economic ties deepen and more Chinese companies and citizens operate overseas.

The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) calls for stronger foreign-related rule-of-law capabilities, improved international commercial mediation, arbitration and litigation mechanisms, and greater support for the International Organization for Mediation. It also calls for more accessible public legal services and greater respect for laws, rules and contracts.

The Law on Publicity and Education Regarding the Rule of Law requires stronger legal education and services for companies engaged in overseas investment, international cooperation and foreign assistance, as well as people traveling or working abroad. The aim is to help them comply with Chinese and local laws and manage legal risks.

Mo said foreign-related legal education serves two main groups: foreign companies and citizens in China, and Chinese businesses and citizens overseas.

Services for foreign entities in China are relatively well developed, while supporting Chinese entities abroad is more difficult because they operate under different legal systems, he said.

Mo urged closer cooperation between judicial, administrative and foreign affairs authorities and stronger legal services at Chinese embassies and consulates. Dedicated personnel could provide basic legal information and emergency assistance to Chinese companies and citizens overseas, Mo added.

Public legal services should also work with professional providers, he said. Where diplomatic missions have limited personnel, qualified Chinese law firms could establish overseas offices or cooperate with local institutions to provide consultations, training and risk guidance services.

yangzekun@chinadaily.com.cn